CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

Part of the College of St John the Baptist founded or refounded in 906 and dissolved in 1547. The church was used as a cathedral from 1075 - 1102 when the See of Lichfield was temporarily moved to Chester. Anchorite Cell also present. Extant building and associated ruins. Collegiate church, briefly cathedral then with Coventry co-cathedral; from Dissolution a parish church. Late 11th, late 12th and early 13th and 14th centuries, said to have been damaged circa 1470 by collapse of supposed central tower and 1572 and 1574 by partial collapse of north-west tower; much of transepts and presbytery abandoned mid 16th century; nave and crossing restored by RC Hussey 1859-66; collapse of north-west tower 1881 destroying north porch; porch rebuilt by John Douglas 1882; north-east belfry tower by Douglas 1886. Sandstone. The present church and adjoining ruins indicate: west front with twin towers, that to south not built; bay between towers, destroyed; 6-bay nave truncated to 4 bays; north and south aisles truncated to 4 bays; crossing: north and south transepts each truncated to one bay; 5-bay aisled chancel with apse between north-east and south-east chapels, truncated to one bay with south aisle as Lady-chapel and north aisle replaced by vestry in belfry-tower; chamber south of south aisle, probably formerly chapter house.

St. John the Baptist's Church is alleged to have been founded in the 7th c. A.D. It was certainly an old Saxon church, promoted to cathedral by Peter, first Norman Bishop of Mercia, when moving his See from Lichfield to Chester, but was reduced in status by his successor. The building was completed at the end of the 13th c, but is now only a fragment of the original, having been neglected for many centuries, but the Norman work still largely survives.

The anchorite cell of St. James (now called the Hermitage) is traditionally connected with King Harold II (2).

Founded c.906(?), Dissolved c. 1547. Used as a cathedral from 1075 until 1102 (2) Scheduled (ruined parts) (4). (2-5)

The church is in normal use.

The ruins to the west of the church, are well preserved and stand almost to their original height. See G.P. AO/64/226/3.

The ruins to the E. are more decayed. See G.P. AO/64/226/4.

The Anchorite Cell, which is well preserved, is built on an isolated pinnacle of rock. See G.P. AO/64/226/5. (6)

The College of St John the Baptist was founded, according to Giraldus Cambrensis, by Ethelred, King of Mercia, in 689. It was more probably founded or refounded by Earl Ethelred in 906 (Chester was restored in 907: Anglo Saxon Chronicle) and repaired and endowed by Earl Leofric. The see of Lichfield was moved here ?1072-1075 remaining until 1102. The college was dissolved about 1547 (7)

Condition unchanged since report of 28 7 64. (8)

The Hermitage (Anchorites Cell), Grade 1. (9)

Several Anglo-Saxon sculptured stone fragments have been discovered in and around the church. Thjere are 7 fragments of cross heads, and 4 shaft fragments, all of 10th-11th century date. (10)